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Proposed Budget Cuts For Arizona Public Education

2.
Who Proposed These Cuts? <ul><li>Senator Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) </li></ul><ul><li>Representative John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) </li></ul><ul><li>Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees </li></ul>

3.
Proposals <ul><li>Almost $1 billion in cuts to the public education budget for FY2009 and FY2010 </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Phase out Career Ladder over 8 years beginning 2010-2011 </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Eliminate all-day kindergarten </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Cut soft capital by $98M in FY2009 and eliminate it entirely in FY2010 </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Reduce “lump sum” payments to districts by $220 million (10% cut) </li></ul></ul>

4.
Current Funding <ul><li>Arizona is ranked 49 th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding. </li></ul>Source: http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/06f33pub.pdf and http://www.edweek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html

6.
Attitude of Arizona Leaders <ul><li>Prior to developing options to address the shortfall, Chairmen asked only two questions : </li></ul><ul><ul><li>How much and where has spending grown over the last 5 years? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>What is the impact of voter protection on spending? </li></ul></ul>Source: http://www.azleg.gov/jlbc/AppropsBudgetOptions011509.pdf

7.
Attitude of Arizona Leaders <ul><li>“I am not willing to raise taxes on families or businesses, as they are already over taxed and over regulated. … The problem has been over spending not a lack of dollars.” </li></ul><ul><li>- Senator Pearce </li></ul>Source: http:// www.russellpearce.com

8.
Attitude of Arizona Businesses <ul><li>38% of Arizona small businesses identified having a “skilled workforce” as “critical” to their business success , second only to healthcare costs (at 42%). An additional 34% of respondents identified the need for a skilled workforce as “important.” </li></ul>Source: http://www.oneilresearch.com/publicdomain/aeim/AEIM_Critical_Issues_Q3_2008.pdf

9.
Attitude of Arizona Citizens <ul><li>A 2008 O’Neil Associates survey showed that even in our current budget crisis, 66% of Arizonans want to spend more on K-12 education , more than any other budget area surveyed. Only 3% think we should spend less on K-12 education. </li></ul>Source: http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2009/01/12/opinion/columnists/guest_opinion/doc4967a2d29f854441030722.txt

10.
Attitude of the Citizens <ul><li>According to a December 2008 survey by Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, almost 600 Tucson business leaders ranked funding for K-12 and higher education as their top priority , even further ahead than tax cuts. About 77% of respondents agree that “Arizona needs to make significant new investments in educational achievement to meet real needs and avoid a crisis.” </li></ul>Sources: http://explorernews.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/doc4963e915289a3313625510.txt and http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/106176

11.
Attitude of the Citizens <ul><li>“ When legislators talk about how they’ll prioritize … they’re still talking about cuts in economic development tools, cuts in funding for education … everything we’re saying is the most important seems to be targeted for the biggest cuts .” </li></ul><ul><li>- Laura Shaw, TREO senior vice president for corporate and community affairs </li></ul>Sources: http://explorernews.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/doc4963e915289a3313625510.txt and http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/106176

12.
At the Rally <ul><li>Between 1,500 and 2,000 people showed up at the state capitol on Sunday, January 25 to voice their concern about the proposed budget cuts. </li></ul>Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/25/20090125edprotest0126.html

14.
Message <ul><li>These are only proposals made by two legislators with no input from other members. </li></ul><ul><li>Many legislators have children in public schools and do support education. </li></ul><ul><li>There is doubt that the proposed cuts will pass in their entirety. </li></ul>

15.
Message <ul><li>Private conversations with Governor Brewer indicate support for education. </li></ul><ul><li>The federal stimulus package may provide significant assistance for our education budget. </li></ul><ul><li>The turnout at the rally was among the best they’d ever seen. </li></ul>

16.
But … <ul><li>There is an urgency among legislative leaders to pass a budget ASAP … possibly by February 1 . </li></ul><ul><li>Legislators need to hear from their constituents now to ensure these cuts get scaled back or defeated. </li></ul>